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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Guest Blogger: Laura Kaye

Laura Kaye's HEARTS IN DARKNESS hit three top-rated lists on Amazon and was on the Top-10 bestselling list at Fictionwise for 10 weeks.

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.~William Shakespeare

Two strangers. Four hours. One pitch-black elevator.

Makenna James thinks her day can’t get any worse, until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.

Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he’s terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he’s trapped in his own worst nightmare.

To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?

= = = = =

Oh, Carol, can I just tell you how much I need the Tiki Hut right now? I have been in editing mode on three different manuscripts for the past month, so I’m not sure which I need more—this quiet time to sit and write new words for new stories, or to just lay on this blanket, soak in the sun, sleep, and never move again! Oh, hell, I brought my laptop, and I’ve got characters chomping at the bit, I might as well write. Sleep’s overrated. Right? Right?

If I was at home, I’d be noshing on some Cheez-Its (totally addicted) and a diet ginger ale, but since I’m on vacation, I’m splurging. Oh, cabana boy? Wow…talk about ask and ye shall receive! What service at this Tiki Hut! And, mmm, what strapping cabana boys, too. My. I’m tempted to keep ordering just to create new opportunities to watch this guy walk towards me, then away, over and over again. Sigh. The view here sure is pretty. Oh, right. My order—I’ll have a big tray of fresh, juicy tropical fruit and a strawberry daiquiri, please. Totally thirst-quenching.

This is the perfect setting for the new erotic romance I’m writing at this very moment, set in a luxurious resort in the Caribbean. The sea air, the white sands, the crystal clear teal surf. Oh, and the hot bodies. There, running down the beach, shirtless in a pair of running shorts perched dangerous low on a set of lean hips. He’s my guy. He’s Jamie, my darkly beautiful hero with a tragic past. Mess of wavy brown hair, mountainous shoulders, cut abs, and strong, bunching thighs that are nothing short of a monument to masculinity. See? Here in paradise you don’t have to choose between taking in the scenery and being focused on your writing. Look around and enjoy what you see, because it’s just inspiration for that next story.

Er, would you excuse me, Carol? *shifts laptop to the side and jogs down the beach* “Jamie? Hey, Jamie? Can I, uh, talk to you for a minute?”

Laura is also sponsoring a giveaway - just leave a comment before midnight Pacific Time on Thursday, 8/25, to be eligible. The winner can choose a digital copy of any one of her books - HEARTS IN DARKNESS, FOREVER FREED, a paranormal, or her new erotic romance, JUST GOTTA SAY, when it releases on 9/30. You can learn more about Laura and her books at www.LauraKayeAuthor.com

60 comments:

Laura, you had me with the synopsis of your book. With our eyes closed what could we really see in the other person? Great story line. Wishing you much success with your writing. Now I'm just going to sit here under the beach umbrella and soak up some sun. :)

Carol, you rock with your authors. Thanks for another great introduction.

Yay, Mason! Thanks so much! And thanks to Carol for hosting me--it's SO NICE here!

Oh, and hey, I have to share a new HEARTS IN DARKNESS accolade! The book hits its best amazon sales rank today (#1,136) and a bestseller list for first time ever #94 bestselling contemporary romance! SO EXCITED! :D

Ooh- Jamie sounds heavenly!Hi Carole. Hi Laura. Congrats on the awesome ranking!I absolutely loved Forever Freed and I've been reading about Hearts In Darkness for a while and would be thrilled to read it! I love elevator stories! So confining, so limited in what one can do/go but leaves SO much to the imagination! Yumm.

There's nothing like a break at the Tiki Hut to recharge those batteries! And some batteries are more fun to recharge than others. Best of luck with your editing, Laura; the idea of editing three manuscripts at once makes my head spin.

Hearts in Darkness sounds like a fun book. I actually read the entire premise, which is good for me because my eyes often glaze over while reading premises. :) I love that they meet in the dark and we have to wait to see if they'll like each other when the lights come on.

@Christi--yes, you just came back from paradise, didn't you? And, hehe, yeah, those thighs...

@LR--LMAO! I suppose they were bouncing too, though that seems eminently less sexy than bunching!

@Mary and Melissa--aw, man, that's a great compliment you both paid--thanks!

@Alex--LOL, Well, I guess that would be only fair! (though, I think Carol's right!!!)

@Raonaid--Gawk away! Fun story: the cover model for HEARTS IN DARKNESS emailed me! I guess the photographers get info on how their stockphotos are used, so the model was able to track down the cover. He thought it was great and loved the addition of tattoos--said he'd have to consider getting one now! :D I about died!

Oh my! A celebration with a nice cabana boy reminds me of...hotties... when I spent a ten day holiday in the Caribbean. Five star hotel, lovely weather( forget the tail of the hurricane) for someone from Scotland; hot nearly naked males wandering around(that was not the staff who were gorgeous); superb food for the senses and all; fourteen in total in my group of couples to party together...is there something not quite like your novel here?Dash it all! I had a fab time at my daughter's wedding though.

I LOVED and I mean LOVED Hearts In Darkness! If any one hasn't read it do it NOW! You will not be disappointed. Forever Freed is SO good too. Can't wait to read more from you! Boy can you write some good (wink, wink) love scenes!! :-) I will buy anything you write! Would be even nicer to win the new one!

P.S. You also have a fan club at my work. We can't stop talking about HID & FF!

Thank you so much for the fun post today and the invite to hop over. I think just the name of this awesome site would make me sign up to follow and share the fun. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Kilgore and the mosquito wars LOL. Of course my fingers are itching to win a copy of one of your lovely titles - got some scratching going on here :)

Laura, huge congrats on your Amazon rankings. You have to be dancing under the Tiki Hut! I love the premise of your novel, awesome. I look forward to reading it—and it sounds like it would make a GREAT movie.

@jessica--there are a couple of reviews around where people said they read it just because of the cover, for which I have to give a great big shout out to cover artist, Tricia Pickyme Schmitt--if you don't follow her on Facebook you're missing out on all the INCREDIBLE cover art and fan art she does and posts! And, yes, that next story is chock full of goodies! ;)

@Ciara--awesome compliment--thanks so much!

@Savannah--thanks! I likey that line too! :) I may or may not use it occasionally in stories! hehe